Book Reviews and More: The Jokes on Us - Gordon Korman

The Jokes on Us

MacDonald Hall Book 7

Scholastic Canada

ISBN 9781443124980

eISBN 9781443128070

ASIN B078GWZSC3

The Jokes on Us - Gordon Korman - Macdonald Hall Book 7

This volume is the final in this series. It is a wonderful read in an excellent series. I have been working my way through Gordon Korman’s complete works, and this was the 109 volume I have read from Korman’s masterful pen. Because of a dual form of dyslexia, I did not learn to read until later, because of that I have a great fondness for Middle Grade books, and books for tween and teens. And Korman is one of the all-time masters. I believe this was Korman’s 21st volume published. And to date it is the last in the MacDonald Hall series which was originally published as the Bruno and Boots Series.

The series consists of:

This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall

Go Jump in the Pool

Beware the Fish!

The Wizzle War

(formerly The War With Mr. Wizzle )

The Zucchini Warriors

Light’s Camera, Disaster

(aka Macdonald Hall Goes Hollywood)

The Jokes on Us

(formerly Something Fishy at Macdonald Hall)

Book 7 was renamed in 2000 the stories were originally published between 1978 and 1995, though some have been rewritten to be more up to date. Three of the original 7 have been renamed at some point over the years. The current description of this volume is:

“Macdonald Hall's ivy-covered buildings have housed and educated many fine young Canadians. But Bruno Walton and Boots O'Neal are far from being fine young Canadians. The roommates and best friends are nothing but trouble! Together they've snuck out after lights-out, swapped flags, kidnapped mascots . . . and that's only the beginning.

There is nothing new about practical jokes at Macdonald Hall. The latest round includes water in the swimming pool being turned blue, the statue of Sir John A. getting a snazzy new outfit, and extra soap being snuck into the dishwasher just for fun. Of course, all fingers point to the usual suspects - Bruno Walton and Boots O'Neal.

The funny thing - they are not the ones pulling the pranks this time! But they are unsure just who the new prankster is, and they have to prove they're innocent before they get expelled.

Join two of Gordon Korman's most memorable characters in seven side-splitting, rip-roaring adventures! Macdonald Hall is the series that started it all, and thirty-five years later it remains a must-read for old fans and new, the young - and the young at heart.”

The back of I believe the 6th printing of the first edition states:

“A new school year has begun and Macdonald Hall may never be the same! Students are turning blue in the swimming pool! Water balloons are bursting in math class! Size 52 bloomers are flying from the flagpole! Sounds like Bruno and Boots are up to their old tricks. After all, aren’t these the kinds of pranks that made them famous?

The entire school thinks the boys are guilty. But this time, believe it or not, a phantom practical joker is on the loose.

Who’s out to frame Bruno and Boots? If they don’t unmask the Phantom, they’re going’ to be expelled from Macdonald Hall!

Award-winning author Gordon Korman brings back those hilarious troublemakers, Bruno and Boots, in this seventh book starring the ever-popular duo.”

The chapters in this volume are:

1: Over the Hill

2: A No-Brainer

3: The Voodoo Curse

4: Tyrannosaurus Rex

5: The Prime Suspects

6: Niagara Falls

7: Marylou Beakman Hates Me

8: Traffic Jam

9: Diddly-Squat

10: Counting Shirts

11: The Romance of Swamp Germs

12: Living on the Edge

13: The Smoking Gun

14: Dear Nasty Uncooperative Old Goat

15: Shot at Dawn

16: One Lousy Little Broken Wire

17: The Discus Thrower

18: The Shadow of the Phantom

19: Watch Out for the Lasers

20: Earsplitting, Teeth-Rattling

21: Simple Surgery

This one was originally published as Something Fishy at Macdonald Hall. This story has been updated some over the years but the whole series is masterfully written. Korman is a master of the Middle Grade and even Young Adult genres, his books are amazing for kids, tweens and teens. And even some of us older readers. C.S. Lewis in On Stories: And Other Essays on Literature stated:

“It is very rarely that a middle-aged man finds an author who gives him, what he knew so often in his teens and twenties, the sense of having opened a new door.”

I said in a previous review that Korman accomplishes that in this and all of his other books I have read. This was another great read. For many authors have a great first work and often it is not followed up well or even at all. Korman has followed up his first book, written at 14, not only with 6 more in this series but over 100 other works. His books are favourites in the classroom, and with young readers. Having now watched the three made for TV MacDonald Hall Movies I have very clear pictures in my head while reading this volume. Almost every time I post a review of one of these books and many of Korman’s others adults comment about home much they love the book or series.

Bruno and Boots have a knack for creating trouble, and for not getting caught, this time they are not the culprit be seem to be caught in the act time and time again. There is a new trickster on campus, and the pair have numerous suspects both from their own campus and the girls across the street from MacDonald Hall have at Miss Scrimmage’s Finishing at one point it even looks like Bruno and Boots days at Macdonald Hall will come to a premature end. And all the while The Fish is avoiding minor surgery on his toe. Miss Scrimmage’s puts in a state of the art security system, one that even scares the installers. And things are about to go from bad to worse. Oh what an adventure.

Can Bruno figure out who the phantom prankster is? Would anyone believe them if they do? Can the pair find a way to finish out their final year at MacDonald Hall? To find out read this excellent final volume in this series. A wonderful read, I can easily recommend this book and series!

Books by Gordon Korman:

MacDonald Hall Series:

This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall (1978)

Go Jump in the Pool (1979)

Beware the Fish! (1980)

The Wizzle War (1982)

(formerly The War With Mr. Wizzle)

The Zucchini Warriors (1988)

Light’s Camera, Disaster (1991)

(aka Macdonald Hall Goes Hollywood)

The Jokes on Us (1995)

(formerly Something Fishy at Macdonald Hall)